Floating observatory on the Dutch flat sands changes shape with the tides

Over the course of history, people have erected structures all over the world to observe and celebrate the sun. Like former ritual sites designed to bring people together, the floating wooden structure ‘Drie Streken’ by artist Marc van Vliet connects visitors to the sun and the horizon. The floating observatory is located in the northern Dutch flat sands, and it changes form in sync with the tides.

Drie Streken is located at the centre of ‘Zeven Stricken’ (seven illuminated points of the compass), on the island of Terschelling, and was built as part of this year’s 10-day Oerol Festival. It can be approached via a long boardwalk that leads to a main circular pavilion that serves as a meeting location illuminated by the solar system’s central star. Its shape, formed by vertical wooden poles, opens and closes according to the tides to reveal the changing environment.

The structure’s almost imperceptible movement directs the visitor’s gaze. A few mirrors, or Heliostats, were located within up to 2 km of the structure, warming up and illuminating the meeting location.

The artist said the observatory is designed to”travel along the wadden over the next four years. At each location, a connection will be sought between the sand flats, the sun, and the horizon with the illuminated points of the compass and the tide.”